Optimization of sucrose polyester synthesis using response surface methodology

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effects of synthetic variables such as reaction time (6-12 hr), temperature (130-150 degrees C), and substrate molar ratio of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of peanut oil to sucrose (10:1 to 14:1) on the % molar conversion to sucrose polyester, utilizing 10g of free sucrose as the reactant; Optimization of the synthetic reaction was performed by canonical analysis to derive the stationary point. Based on contour plots and canonical analysis, optimum conditions were: reaction time 11.5 hr, synthetic temperature 144 degrees C, and substrate molar ratio 11.4:1. Predicted molar conversion was 43.39% (10g sucrose synthesized 29.48 sucrose polyester) at the optimum point. Experimental data indicated up to 48.4% yield based on theoretical % molar conversion.